SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State has announced the receipt of National Letters of Intent from 18 high school students who have committed to play football at Missouri State this fall. In addition, the Bears have received commitments from three transfer students, including two already enrolled and attending classes this semester.

"We are very pleased with this year's recruiting class," said head coach Terry Allen, who will begin his fifth season with the Bears in 2010. "We have addressed some immediate needs in some areas and added depth to other areas. Our staff is excited about the challenges of next season and building for the future of our program."

-- Missouri State's 18 high school commitments are from:

• Noah Ashley (WR, 6-2, 170, Fr., Culver City, Calif., Culver City High) A first-team all-Ocean League receiver his senior year, Ashley collected 39 receptions for 620 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2009 for coach Jahmal Wright. He helped the Centaurs to a 9-2 record his senior season and is also a basketball standout. He was recruited by Idaho and Villanova.
• Andrew Beisel (LB, 6-2, 210, Fr., Fenton, Mo., Rockwood Summit High) One of the most-prolific tacklers in the St. Louis area last season, Beisel tallied 155 total stops for the Rockwood Summit Falcons which ranked sixth among all high school players in the metro area. He has a 3.9 grade-point average and claimed first-team all-conference honors as a linebacker and tight end, while earning second-team all-state distinction by the Missouri sportswriters and sportscasters. He also claimed first-team all-district and third-team Post-Dispatch All-Metro honors for coach Mike Belers.
• Sybhrian Berry (CB, 5-9, 175, Fr., Camden, Ark., Fairview High) Part of a the Arkansas Class 5A runners-up at Camden (Ark.) Fairview High in 2009, Berry was an all-state cornerback. He collected 13 interceptions as a senior, including three returned for touchdowns. He is also a noted kick returner and was selected to play in the Arkansas High School All-Star game. The all-conference standout helped coach Buck James' Cardinals to a 10-4 overall record this season.
• Joe Burgess (OL, 6-6, 300, Fr., Florissant, Mo., McCluer North High) A three-year starter for coach Jim Schottmueller at McCluer North High, Burgess was rated the No. 23 prospect in the Post-Dispatch Super 30 list after earning first-team All-Metro laurels. He helped the Stars average 301.3 yards per game of total offense and earned all-conference and all-state honors twice. MaxPreps.com named him to the All-Missouri Second Team (all classes) after helping McCluer North claim three straight district titles and a 6-5 record in 2009. He was also recruited by Nebraska and Kansas State.
• Julian Burton (WR/RB, 5-10, 185, Fr., Memphis, Tenn., White Station High) A versatile athlete with great speed, Burton was a Tennessee all-state performer for the Class 6A state champion White Station squad. He was rated a three-star recruit on Rivals.com and scored 32 touchdowns in two seasons with just under 2,000 all-purpose yards. He also snatched seven interceptions and was a two-time Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps selection. In the state championship game, he earned offensive and defensive MVP honors. He was also recruited by Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Alabama State and Hampton.
• Nick Canavan (LB, 5-11, 205, Fr., Norman, Okla., Northside High) A solid defender and two-time Oklahoma all-state pick, Canavan tallied 353 career tackles for coach Lance Manning at Norman Northside High. His three varsity seasons also netted eight sacks and two interceptions while claiming all-district and all-conference honors twice. The three-year starter was also a standout running back for the Timberwolves.
• Zack Cooley (OL, 6-5, 275, Fr., Lebanon, Mo., Lebanon High) A Rivals.com two-star recruit, Cooley was a Missouri second-team all-state offensive tackle in 2009 by both the coaches and sportswriters for coach Will Christian at Lebanon High. He earned first-team all-conference, all-district and All-Ozarks first-team distinction at offensive tackle and defensive end for the Yellowjackets. He also claimed first-team academic all-state honors and was recruited by Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois.
• Michael Crutcher (DB, 6-1, 200, Fr., Wentzville, Mo., Timberland High) Crutcher helped Timberland to a 9-2 record his senior season and 19-3 cumulative ledger his final two seasons as a starter for the Wolves. He earned all-district honors in 2009 after collecting 100 tackles, an interception, a sack and a safety. He was also a two-time all-conference pick for coach Craig Collins.
• Richard Galbierz (OL, 6-3, 285, Fr., Arnold, Mo., Fox High) Galbierz earned Class 6 second-team all-state honors in 2009 while leading Fox to a 9-3 record and state playoff appearance. He was also a first-team all-conference and all-district pick his senior season for the Warriors of coach Nick Gianino. He helped anchor an offensive line that averaged 330 yards per game of total offense.
• Samuel Goode (DT, 6-3, 305, Fr., Jacksonville, Fla., Ribault High) Goode tallied 67 tackles, 11 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and an interception return for a touchdown in 2009 for coach Anthony Flynn's Ribault High Trojans. He was selected to play in the Florida Shrine Bowl and was named Class 2A District 3 Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was also an all-district and all-conference offensive lineman and was named to the Florida Times-Union all-metro second team as a defensive tackle.
• Mitchell Jenkins (QB, 6-3, 203, Fr., Springfield, Mo., Hillcrest High) Jenkins guided Hillcrest High in Springfield to its first-ever playoff victory this season as the Hornets finished 7-5 overall. The southpaw threw for 2,775 yards and 35 touchdowns to earn Class 4 all-state honors by both the coaches and sportswriters, along with All-Ozark Conference and All Southwest Missouri distinction. An outstanding scholar with a 3.9 grade-point average, he completed 156-of-299 passes and rushed for 570 yards and seven touchdowns for coach John Beckham.
• Josh Mattes (RB, 6-1, 220, Fr., Lebanon, Mo., Lebanon High) A powerful runner with great speed and athleticism, Mattes made the transition from receiver to running back for his senior year at Lebanon High School. He earned all-district, academic all-conference, and All-Ozarks Conference honors for the second straight season for coach Will Christian. In 2009, he had 200 carries for 1,224 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in 2009 while helping the Yellowjackets to a 5-5 record. In 2008, he had 45 receptions for 486 yards as the team's feature receiver. The all-state sprinter and triple jumper was also recruited by UNI and Southern Illinois.
• Martin Montgomery (DE, 6-3, 235, Fr., Pine Bluff, Ark., Pine Bluff High) After recording 85 total tackles his senior season, Montgomery helped coach Bobby Bolding's Zebras to an Arkansas Class 6A runner-up finish and 9-5 overall record. The all-state defensive end also tallied 20 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, and recovered three fumbles during the campaign. An all-conference selection, he was also picked to play in the Arkansas All-Star Game.
• Eric Pearce (DT, 6-2, 280, Fr., Springdale, Ark., Har-Ber High) The 2009 Arkansas all-state defensive lineman helped his Har-Ber squad to an Arkansas Class 7A state title and 12-1 overall record. He was a two-time all-conference pick for coach Chris Wood's Wildcats and was selected to play in the Arkansas High School All-Star Game after producing 46 total tackles and seven sacks as a senior.
• Jordan Rainey (OL, 6-5, 310, Fr., Joplin, Mo., Joplin High) A two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Rainey established himself as a top-shelf prospect in 2009, earning Class 6 first-team all-state honors for the Joplin Eagles of coach Doug Buckmaster. He was first-team all-conference and all-district his senior season after claiming second-team laurels from the district and league in 2008. He helped Joplin to an Ozark Conference title his junior season and was also recruited by Arkansas, Kansas State and Arkansas State.
• Caleb Schaffitzel (DB, 6-0, 205, Fr., Fair Grove, Mo., Fair Grove High) One of the most prolific scorers in Missouri high school history, Schaffitzel broke state career records for touchdowns (141) and all-purpose yards (10,512), while accumulating 8,551 career rushing yards and 119 rushing touchdowns. The two-time all-state and four-time all-district standout started 47 straight games for coach Jason O'Neal as a two-way performer. He also accumulated 432 career tackles as a safety with 11 interceptions. His senior season, he accounted for 50 total touchdowns, and carried 275 times for 2,711 yards to help him tally 3,302 all-purpose yards for the Eagles.
• Isaac Umesi (CB, 5-10, 175, Fr., Richland Hills, Texas, Richland High) A highly-touted corner, Umesi was a Texas Class 5A first-team all-district performer in District 3 for the Rebels of Richland High. He also snagged second-team all-district honors as a junior in 2008. He was named a Top 100 player by the Dallas Morning News (No. 74), a Top 50 recruit by the Fort Worth Star Telegram (top 4 defensive back), and a Top 10 prospect at the Coppel Combine. With exceptional 4.4 speed and a 33-inch vertical, Rivals.com ranked him as a three-star prospect. He was also recruited heavily by Kansas, as well as Baylor, and Colorado State.
• Austin Witmer (K, 6-5, 180, Fr., Grand Island, Neb., Grand Island Central Catholic High) A four-year letterman at Grand Island (Neb.) Catholic High, Witmer kicked 76 extra points and converted 24 field goals during his prep career for the Crusaaders. He earned first-team all-state honors in 2008 and 2009 after claiming honorable mention all-state distinction in 2007 for coach Charlie Shoemaker. He was all-conference and all-district three seasons and averaged 57.9 yards per kickoff in 2009 while helping his team to an 8-2 season. He was also recruited by Minnesota and Nebraska-Kearney.

 Transfers already enrolled and attending classes at Missouri State are:

 * Kaleb Mueller (LS, 6-2, 220, Jr., Paola, Kan., Paola High, Fort Scott [Kan.] Community College) Rated as one of the top 12 long snappers in the nation by Scout.com, Mueller was part of a Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College squad that was 11-1 in 2009 and finished as national runners-up. The Greyhounds were 7-0 in the Jayhawk Conference and Region VI champions.

* Matt Thayer (TE, 6-4, 245, So., Bellevue, Neb., Bellevue East High, Iowa Western Community College) An all-region tight end as a freshman at Iowa Western Community College in 2009, Thayer had 15 catches for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2009. He was an All-MFC Region selection and academic all-conference pick for the Reivers of coach Scott Strohmeier. He helped his squad to a 5-4 mark in the program's inaugural season. He was an all-conference and all-state pick as a high school senior at Bellevue (Neb.) East High for coach Jerry Lovell.

Newly-announced junior college transfers who will attend Missouri State this fall:

* Willie White (WR, 6-3, 205, Jr., Kingsland, Ga., Camden County High, Coffeyville [Kan.] Community College) One of the nation's top receiving prospects as a high school senior in 2007, White redshirted his freshman year at Georgia Tech, then suffered a meniscus injury his second season at the Atlanta school. He transferred to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College in 2009 and broke his wrist in another season-ending injury during 2009 preseason two-a-day practices. He was a three-star recruit out of Camden County (Ga.) High School by YahooSports.com in the class of 2007 with a 4.5 40-yard dash time. He also was a Rivals.com Top 50 receiver prospect (No. 38) and No. 14 overall prospect in Georgia. He had 15 catches for 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a prep senior along with 42 tackles and two interceptions as a defensive back.